BOSTON — Monday is Truck Day for Red Sox Nation, when the Sox’ equipment truck travels 1,480 miles to Fort Myers, Florida, for spring training at JetBlue Park.
This has been a Red Sox tradition since 2003, marking the unofficial start of spring training. The truck, driven by Milford native Al Hartz for the 24th straight year, will be loaded at 7 a.m. and leave around noon with 20,400 baseballs, 1,100 bats, 200 batting gloves and 60 cases of sunflower seeds, among hundreds of helmets, jerseys, pants and cases of gum.
The truck will be led by a flat-bed truck carrying Wally the Green Monster, his sister Tessie, and Fenway Ambassadors who will be tossing soft Red Sox baseballs to fans.
However, it won’t be transporting a manager, as the Sox and Alex Cora parted ways on Jan. 14 after the sign-stealing investigation revealed last month that he was the mastermind behind the operation while with the Houston Astros. There hasn’t been any sign from the Red Sox as to who they are looking to hire as a manager.
The Sox might also need to find another outfielder. Despite signing Mookie Betts to a one-year, $27 million deal on Jan. 10, there are many reports that the Sox are looking to trade the former American League MVP. Veteran analyst Peter Gammons tweeted that three different National League folks are calling a trade to the LA Dodgers “inevitable.”
A lot will have to be figured out soon as pitchers and catchers report next Wednesday.
This browser does not support the video element.